Easy Vegan Hoisin Seitan Ch'kn Bao

Name: Easy Vegan Hoisin Seitan Ch'kn Bao
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 9 min
Ingredients: 6 Bao Buns (allow 2-3 bao per person); 170 g Seitan Chicken; 3 tbsp hoisin sauce; 1 tsp sriracha mayo; 1/2 tbsp nuetral oil (for pan frying the seitan); 3 tbsp pickled onions (or kimchi); 3 tbsp fresh herbs (such as coriander and mint)

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There is something utterly compelling about Bao. These Easy Vegan Hoisin Seitan Ch'kn Bao are a total favourite mid-week dinner at our place! Let me tell you why!

Bao are fluffy little steamed buns that you fill with delicious savoury goodies. We cheat a little and buy our Bao ready to steam. You can find them in Asian supermarkets, or even in our local larger supermarket. We love to make up a few yummy filling options, then help ourselves to the fillings as we like, piling the fluffy vegan bao up with seitan, pickles, herbs and layering with spicy mayo!

Vegan hoisin bao being picked up to eat.

🍽Key Ingredients

Bao Buns Fluffy buns that are steamed before filling. You can make your own from scratch, but we buy them from our Asian or local large supermarket. You can even buy them premade online (affiliate link)

Seitan Chicken Here we have used our own seitan chicken recipe (full recipe here) but we often use a vegan chicken from the supermarket too. We like the Linda McCartney 'pulled pork' (which we think is more like shredded chicken!)

Hoisin Sauce Most Hoisin sauce is vegan (yay- but check the label). Our absolute fave has got to be The Garlic Farm hoisin sauce (affiliate link) because of the lovely garlicky flavour it brings to the dish, but use any hoisin that you happen to love.

Quick Pickles (or kimchi!) I like to make a jar of pickled radishes and red onions to keep in the fridge and put on everthing (recipe is coming SOON for this!) Or use your favourite pickled onions or some kimchi. (we love this one- affilaite link)

Fresh Herbs I love to add fresh coriander and mint to my bao. If you can find Vietnamese basil, then that would also be amazing. Or even a sprinkle of chives or fresh chopped spring onions tastes great.

Spicy Sriracha Mayo Optional but delicious. Make your own by mixing your favourite hot sauce in with some mayo. Or try one of the many vegan Sriracha Mayos that are around. I like the Flying Goose brand (affiliate link)

Close up of the vegan bao buns stuffed with hoisin seitan chick'n.

👩‍🍳How to Assemble the buns

I think one of the reasons I love making these Easy Vegan Hoisin Seitan Ch'kn Bao for dinner so much is that it's super easy to make them!

1)Prep all the ingredients and have them ready to assemble. I like to lay everything out so that everyone can help themselves! Little bowls full of chopped herbs. Pickles out and of course the mayo or sauces you want to add.

2) Now pan-fry the vegan seitan chicken in a little oil. Let it get a little crispy at the edges, then simply pour over 2-3 tablespoons (aka a big old glug) of hoisin sauce. Stir around to warm through and it's ready to go into the buns.

3) While you are pan frying theSteam the buns in a bamboo steamer - or just use your vegetable steamer for about 3-4 minutes.

4) To fill the bao, gently open them out, then stuff with the vegan hoisin chicken, herbs, pickles and sauce!

Yummy plate of bao buns stuffed with vegan seitan chicken.

❓FAQ

How long do you steam the bao buns for?

3-4 minutes until puffed up and fluffy

Can you make these ahead of time?

The bao are best served hot and just made. I have reheated pre-stuffed bao in a steamer, and it worked out ok as leftovers. I wouldn't serve them cold however, I don't think they would be super tasty.

What vegan chicken are you using in this recipe?

I used this seitan chicken recipe Basic Vegan Seitan Chicken (no wash method) I make it up in huge batches and freeze in 2 person portions. But you can use any commercial vegan 'chicken'.

🥗Serving Suggestions

Here are some great ideas to serve alongside (or inside!) your Bao!

Vegan Disco Slaw

Creamy & Tangy Vegan Celeriac Remoulade

Basic Vegan Seitan Chicken (no wash method)

Perfect Vegan Garlic Greens Side Dish

Let us know if you love Bao as much as we do and if you make this super Easy Vegan Hoisin Seitan Ch'kn Bao, let us know in the comments below!